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Mr. Saia also wrote for the St. Rose Scarlet Lancers and St. Mary's Cardinals. He had an interesting style. His use of harmony sopranos was unique. Sort of haunting.
In 1961-1962 (I think) I heard that he was using some baritones with soprano mouthpieces. He voice them like mellophones.
An innovative and very talented guy.

The best corps manager I ever had the pleasure of working with was Jim Unrath, of the Des Plaines Vanguard. A great organizer, cheerleader, facilitator, musician and all around exceptionally intelligent guy. Great sense of humor too.

John Thirion arranged for and instructed the Des Plaines Vanguard drum line in 1968 and 1969. He was an acoustic engineer by training. John also spent a lot of time working with the engineers at Ludwig Drum. He and Hy Dreitzer collaborated numerous times trying to work the tympanis and other tuned drums into his arrangements.
Interesting times for the Des Plaines Vanguard members and staff.

The first time I recall hearing Mellophones was at the 1964 VFW National prelims. A corps named Tri-Community _____ had them. At first I thought that they were French Horns on steroids. Prior to that, I was very familiar with the outstanding mellophone section of the Stan Kenton orchestra.

The Des Plaines Vanguard marched a single tri-drum in 1968. In 1969, they eliminated tenor drums and instead used three tri-drummers.
The Cavaliers marched a single three drum apparatus in 1968. We referred to them as "bubble drums" because they had rounded, clear plexiglass bottoms.

After 1962, it was very rare for anyone to leave the Vanguard to join another corps. I can only recall one member from that era leaving to join another corps. When members left, it was the end of their Jr. Corps experience.

In 1965, Dreitzer arranged "When the Saints go Marchin' in" for the Vanguard. Then in 1969 the Skyliners played a terrific, but decidedly different rendition. Hy was one of a kind. Creative/innovative.

Hy arranged "Luck be a lady" and "Bill Bailey" for us in 1964. He continued writing and teaching for the corps into the1969 season.
I was in the Vanguard in 1963. We were relatively young, and we were exhausted when we arrived for the show. (No excuses offered.) It was not our best effort of that season. A majority of those young Vanguards were still with them into the late 1960s.

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